SUKKUR: In what is being regarded as a major achievement in containing tribal feuds in upper Sindh districts, a ‘grand Jirga’ managed to bring an end to hostilities among seven different communities on Friday.

Armed attacks and counter-attacks involving these communities over the last 40 years had left at least 84 men, women and children dead and close to 80 others injured.

The three-day Grand Jirga was held in the Sukkur Circuit House on April 21-22 to hear grievances of the communities and weigh the evidence-based claims put before the arbitrators.

The communities that attended the proceedings and sought ‘justice’ were Shar, Kosh, Turat, Seelra, Machhi, Bhutto and Dhondu.

They pleaded their cases before Sardar Ali Gohar Khan Mahar, Ghous Bakhsh Khan Mahar, Ali Anwar Mahar, Sardar Dr Mohammad Ibrahim Jatoi, Sardar Mir Abid Hussain Khan Jatoi, Shaharyar Khan Shar and Haji Karim Dino Badani.

After holding consultations with their aides and hearing the counsel nominated by each of the warning communities, the Jirga leaders penned down their ruling and announced it late Thursday evening.

Summing up the ruling, it was announced that the Jirga has fixed a fine / compensation of Rs5m each against the murder of two Shar tribe elders (waderas) and each of a deceased woman victim; Rs3.5m each against the murder of two tribal elders, one from the Shar and the other from the Chhijjan community.

A fine of Rs8m was imposed on some Seelra community individuals for bullying their rival side.

A cumulative amount of Rs305.5m was imposed as fine on the communities whose individuals were found guilty of causing death or other physical harm to their rivals.

The communities were asked to pay off their respective fine amounts in three instalments within as many months.

The community elders who were murdered during the hostilities are Wadera Ali Mohammad Shar and Wadera Omar Shar (who were killed during an attack on Shaharyar Khan Shar) by some Seelra community individuals; Wadera Din Mohammad Shar and Wadera Mumtaz Chhijjan.

The Jirga also fixed a fine of Rs2.5m fine against the attack on Sardar Shaharyar Khan Shar.

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2026